Radiator



May 8, 1934. A. H. DAVIS, JR., ET A1.

RADIATOR 2 sheets-sheet 1- Original Filed Sept. ll

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W/ rP/EJISES May 8, 1934. A. H. DAVIS, JR., ET Ax.

RADIATOR Original Filed Sept. ll, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [A UU Ulz- I IVVEN TORS B Y 99x50 W//YSBOOoG/V.

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Patented May 8, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFICE RADIATOR Originalapplication September 11, 1931, Serial No. 562,308. Divided and thisapplication May 15, 1933, Serial No. 671,073

7 claims. (c1. 11s- 118) This invention relates generally to heatexchange apparatus and particularly to improved radiators for heatingthe rooms of buildings.

The subject matter of the present application is closely related to thatof our copending application Serial No. 562,308, filed September 1l,1931, of which this application is a division.

The general object of our invention is to provide a method ofmanufacturing rugged and eifective sheet metal heating radiators.Another object of our invention is to provide an improved method ofmanufacturing unitary radiator structures. A further object is toprovide a method of manufacture by means of which a self-containedradiator in which a cabinet, extended surface heating elements, and atube for circulating heated fluid, are joined together to constitute aunitary structure.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a heatingelement, preferably a plurality of tubes of circular cross sectiondisposed in horizontal position one above another in a vertical plane.By means of suitable end connections the tubes are joined to constitutesingle or multiple continuous passageways for heat conveying fluid. Aunitary cabinet structure, which also functions as a radiating surface,is made in a plurality of sections which completely enclose the tubes.

Each section is made from a single piece of metal suitably out andfolded to form continuous back, top, and front ribbon-like portionsconstituting a comparatively narrow strip or panel on the exterior ofthe radiator. The back and front portions of each section are ofsubstantially channel shape having inwardly bent integral side plates.The side plates are provided with openings for receiving the horizontaltubes in such manner that the sections are joined rigidly to the tubestructure.

Any convenient number of sections may be combined to constitute aradiator of the desired size and capacity. The bottoms of the sectionsare ordinarily left open to permit ingress of air and suitable openingsare provided near the top of each section, ordinarily in the front facethereof, for permitting egress of air.

The stated objects of the invention, together with other objects thatwill become apparent upon further consideration of this specification,may be achieved by the methods of making and assembling the specificstructures herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. 1 is a View in front elevation of a unitary radiatorembodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of ,the radiator; Fig. 3 is a partialView in horizontal section, taken on the plane represented by the lineIII-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the tubesexpanded to lock the various parts of the radiator together; Fig. 5 is aview in end elevation, similar to Fig. 2, of a radiator embodying amodification of the invention; Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 2showing another modification of the invention; Fig. 7 is a view insection, similar to Fig. 3, showing a further modication of theinvention; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a blank for a section of theradiator, cut from sheet metal and pressed to form flanges thereon; Fig.9 is a view in elevation of the blank with the back portion and frontportion of the section folded to channel shape; Fig. 10 is a plan viewof one of the transverse plates; Fig. 11 is a view in section taken onthe line XI-XI of Fig. 10 showing the flanged openings in the transverseplates; Fig. l2 is a plan View of a blank for a section of a modiedradiator, that has been cut and pressed from sheet metal; Fig. 13 is aviev.r in elevation of the blank shown in Fig. 12 folded to channelshape; and Fig. 14 is a View in end elevation of a radiator made fromthe blank shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the radiator is shown inFigs. 1 and 2 as a unitary structure having a smooth paneled exteriorsurface. The usual supply pipe 2 for admitting steam or other heatingmedium to the radiator is connected at one end thereof by means of acontrol valve 3. At the other end of the heating tube, the usualthermostatic trap i is provided for conveying condensed liquid from theradiator to a return pipe 5. From the control valve 3, heated fluid maypass through the radiator by way of one or more horizontally disposedtubes 7, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the runs of which areconnected together at their ends to provide single or multiplecontinuous passageways through the radiator to the outlet trap 4.

The radiator may be supported in any suitable manner, as by a basemember or feet (not shown) or it may be mounted on the wall of a roomfor instance beneath a window, by means of brackets fastened to the wallback of the radiator and disposed tocarry the radiator as shown in Fig.11i.

As shown in Fig. 2, the tubes 7 are arranged, in this particularstructure, in two banks of four tubes each, extending longitudinally ofthe radiator and disposed in parallel vertical planes. The tubes aresupported in their normal relative positions by means of a plurality oftransverse plates 11, one of which is shown in detail in Figs. and 11.Each of the plates 11 is provided with a plurality of flanged openings12 suitably spaced and positioned to receive the tubes 7, and to haveheat transferring contact therewith. In the particular structure shown,the transverse plates l1 are disposed on the tubes 'l in groups of threeplates equally spaced from each other, the groups being spaced atdistances substantially equal to twice the distance between individualplates.

Each group of three plates is enclosed by a shell or section 13 thatconstitutes a portion of the exterior or cabinet structure of theradiator. Each section 13 is formed from a single piece of sheet metalthat may be cut from a flat plate, as shown in Fig. 8. Suitable iiangedopenings 14 are formed by a pressing operation, and the end portionsthen are bent to channel shape, as shown in Fig. 9, with the openings 14in the side plates of the channels disposed in alignment.

The entire section is then folded uponl itself to the finished shapeshown in Fig. 2 with the openings 14 positioned to receive the tubes inheat transferring contact. One bank of tubes is passed through theopenings in the side walls of the front portion of the section and thecorresponding openings in the plates 11 and the other bank of tubes ispassed through the openings in the side walls of the back portion andthe aligned plate openings thus locking the sections to the plates 11.

The exposed portions of the section 13 constitute a continuous strip orribbon extending up the front of the radiator, across the top, and downthe back, functioning throughout as an active radiating surface. Thelower ends of the front and back portions of the section are turnedunder to give a rounded appearance to the bottom of the radiator similarto the appearance of the top, but the bottom of each section is leftopen to provide an inlet opening 15 for air.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper portion of each section extendssomewhat above the tops of the transverse plates 11 to constitute a fluefor promoting convection currents through the radiator. At the front ofeach section there is fromed an outlet opening 16, bounded by inturnedflanges 16a, the bottom of which is slightly above the tops of thetransverse plates 11. When the radiator is in operation, the heated airwithin each section moves upward and outward through the opening 16,being replaced by cool air from the room that enters the inlet opening15.

In manufacturing a radiator of this type, the transverse plates 11 andthe sections 13 are formed from sheet metal, as explained hereinbefore,and assembled in their proper relative positions with the correspondingopenings 12 and 14 in alignment. The various sections and plates may beheld in position by any suitable fixture in such manner that the tubes'l may be passed through the openings 12 and 14.

Preferably the tubes 7 are formed from drawn copper tubing of circularsection, the tubing being cut into lengths of substantially twice thelength of the radiator and each length bent upon itself to constitutetwo spaced horizontal runs connected by an integral return bend, foursuch tubing sections being utilized in the radiator shown. The doublesections may then be inserted in pairs of openings through thestructure.

After the four double sections of tubing are placed in their properpositions in the radiator structure, they are connected to one anotherat their ends by return bend or elbow members 17 which are joined to theends of the tubing by brazed joints 20 or other suitable fasteningmeans. ABy means of the return bends 17 the tubing is joined toconstitute a single or multiple passageway through the radiator for theheating medium, provided at its ends with connection elements 18, one ofwhich connects to the control valVe 3 and the other to the trap 4.

After the radiator has been thus far assembled and all of theconnections between the individual tubes 7 have been made, the structuremay be secured together by expanding the tube 'l' by means of hydraulicpressure to extend it as shown in Fig. 4 in such manner that it closelyengages the inner surface of the flanged openings 12 and 14 to hold theelements of the radiator securely in position.

'Ihe thermal efficiency of the joints between the tube 'l and theextended surface structure may be increased by soldering or galvanizingthe plates and sections to the tubes, the soldering or galvanizing maybe done in addition to expanding the tube 7, or the solder may bedepended upon to hold the structure together without resorting to othersecuring means.

After the elements have thus been joined together, suitable end sections19 may be applied to the radiator to enclose the return bends at theends of the tubes l and to give to the radiator a smooth exteriorsurface at its ends.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the sections 13are made in the same manner as are the sections shown in Figs. 1 to 4.However, in this structure no transverse plates need be utilized. To tiethe two sides of the radiator together, connecting links or strips 21are used instead of the transverse plates 11. As shown, the strips 2lare provided at each end with an opening 22 for receiving one of thetubes 7. One strip is disposed to engage at its ends the two top tubesof the vertical banks and another to engage the two bottom tubes, thusholding the radiator securely together. Any convenient number of stripsmay be used and they may be distributed as desired along the length ofthe radiator.

Similar strips are utilized in the modification shown in Fig. 6 insteadof transverse plates for holding the sections in place. In thisstructure the tube banks in the two sides of the sections are not thesame but are formed from a continuous tube the opposite runs on the twosides being disposed relative to each other in staggered relation.Strips or links 25 are disposed in angular position from the tubes inone bank to the tubes in the other bank thus forming a lattice workstructure holding the sides of the sections together. Likewise, in thisradiator any convenient number of strips may be used to support thesections and the number of tubes in the tube banks may be varied asdesired.

Fig. 'l shows a modification in which intermediate plates or links aredispensed with, the panel sections 13 of the cabinet forming thetransverse locking and radiating members by parallel equally spacedinterior flanges extending substantially across the cabinet. In thismodification the front wall of the panel section has its ..-e flangesturned inward at right angles to the front wall for a short distance,then the anges are bent toward each other to form portions 5lsubstantially parallel to the front wall, then they are turned at rightangles again, forming parallel 150 ino iis

ies

flanges 52 extending substantially to the rear wall of the nishedsection. These flanges have properly positioned flange perforations forreceiving the heating tubes 7.

The back wall of the panel likewise has inturned flanges 55 turnedinward at right angles and bent to bring the inner parts 56 of theflanges into parallel relation and substantially equally spaced withrespect to flanges 52 of the front wall. These rear wall anges arelikewise perforated to receive the tubes '7.

This arrangement provides cross-locking and radiating plates 52 and 56integral with the panel sections of the radiator cabinet. Uniformspacing and consequent maximum efiiciency provided, while the smoothpaneled effect of the cabinet is preserved.

In Figs. 12, 18 and 14 is shown a modification of the invention in whichneither transverse plates nor strips are necessary to hold the sides ofthe sections together. The sections of this radiator are formed fromflat material, as shown in Fig. 12, in the said general manner that thesections 13 of Fig. 8 are formed, with the exception that the edges ofthe sections are indented or scalloped in such way that recesses 31 areprovided at the positions to be occupied by alternate tubes. Between therecesses are lugs or projections 32, each having an opening 33 forreceiving tube "1. When the sections are folded together, as shown inFig. 14, the lugs 32 at one side i'lt into the recesses 31 at the otherside to form a substantially continuous transverse wall with openings 33disposed in the vertical mid-plane of the radiator.

As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the lugs in one wall of the sections and atone side thereof alternate with the lugs in the other wall and at thesame side in such manner that each tube 7 is engaged by one lug at-oneside of the section in one wall thereof and by one lug at the other sideof the section in the other wall. In this way the sections are heldtogether without separate cross pieces and without overlapping of thewall portions. 1f desired, transverse plates similar to those shown inFigs. 3 and 4 may be disposed within the sections thus formed and freelysupported on the tubes '7 for assisting in transmitting heat from thetubes to the air within the sections.

From the foregoing it will be noted that we have provided a simple andefficient method of manufacturing radiators of the enclosed cabinet typeto produce a rugged unitary structure.

Others skilled in the art will appreciate that various othermodifications may be made in the general method of forming andassembling the heating tubes and enclosing sections without dspartingfrom the spirit and scope of the inventioned defined in the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. The method of making heat-exchange apparatus that comprises the stepsof punching cutting and folding a plurality of strips of sheet metal toform members of substantially channel shape, folding each member onitself to constitute a box-like section having an integral top andaligned openings through its side walls, and disposing the sections onhuid-conducting tubes extending through openings in said channel memberto constitute a self-contained cabinet radiator.

2. The method of making heat-exchange apparatus which comprises cuttinga plurality of sheet metal blanks in the form of two substantiallyrectangular end portions connected by a relatively narrow centralportion, providing each end portion with a series of openings along theside edges thereof, folding the blanks to form members of substantiallychannel shape with the openings on opposite sides of each end portion inalignment, folding each member on itself to place said end portions atright angles to said central portion, and then disposing said members onfluid-conducting tubes extending through said openings to constitute aself-contained cabinet radiator.

3. The method of making heat-exchange apparatus which comprises cuttinga plurality of sheet metal blanks, providing the blanks with a series ofopenings along opposite edges thereof, folding the blanks to formmembers of substantially channel shape with oppositely disposed openingsin alignment, folding each member on itself to constitute a box-likesection having an integral top, and disposing the sections onfluidconducting tubes extending through said openings to constitute aself-contained cabinet radiator.

4. The method of making heat-exchange apparatus which comprises formingsheet metal blanks in the form of strips having a relatively narrowcentral portion, providing holes along the side edges of the endportions of said blanks, bending the side edge portions of each blankhaving the holes therein to form a channel-like member, folding eachmember upon itself to constitute a box-like section and then threadingsaid sections on parallel pipes extending through said openings toconstitute a cabinet radiator.

5. The method of making heat-exchange apparatus which comprises forminga plurality of sheet metal blanks in the form of strips having side edgeportions, punching openings in the said portions, bending the side edgeportions of said blanks to form channel-like members, folding saidmembers upon themselves to' form box-like sections with adjacent sideedge portions interi-ltting to provide substantially continuous surfacesand then disposing said sections on fluid-conducting tubes insertedthrough said openings to constitute an enclosed radiator.

6. The method of making heat-exchange apparatus which comprises forminga plurality of sheet metal blanks in the form of strips having side edgeportions with projections and recesses therein, punching holes in theside edge portions, bending the side edge portions of said blanks toform channel-like members, folding said members upon themselves to formbox-like sections with adjacent side edge portions intertting to providesubstantially continuous surfaces and then disposing said sections onfluid-conducting tubes inserted through the said openings to constitutean enclosed radiator.

'7. The method of making heat-exchange apparatus which comprises forminga plurality of sheet metal strips having side edge portions withrecesses and projections therein, providing openings in saidprojections, bending the side edge portions of said strips to formchannel-like members, folding the members on themselves to constitutebox-like sections with the projections and recesses of adjacent sideedge portions intertting to provide substantially continuous surfaces,and then disposing the sections on fluid-conducting tubes extendingthrough said openings to form a cabinet radiator.

ARCHIBALD H. DAVIS, JR. PAXSON WINSBOROUGH.

